Reply by Doss

TCCabinetmaker, the force applied in log splitting is far greater and in longer duration than that of a knife. Not only that, the knife’s wedge shape is far narrower than a log splitter. The log splitter is designed to separate and displace the wood. A knife is designed to cut through with little displacement (it is more efficient to cut this way). Because of this, the wood “heals” when using end grain.